"LOU JAS"
04120 SOLEILHAS
LOGIS DE FRANCE
Things To Do
Walking
The Lou Jas is ideally situated for those who like the outdoors with a wide variety of local walks. For those who like mountains, the Crete de Teillon is on the doorstep. For those who prefer more low level forest walks there is plenty of variety, walk on donkey paths to the ruins at Verraillon, to La Sagne, Les Coulettes or over the Tracastel ridge to give an excellent view into the Clue de St Auban. For those who like ridge walks, the Cremon ridge above Vauplane affords excellent views down onto Lac de Castillon and Lac de Chaudanne.
For anyone doing the GR4, then the Lou Jas is an ideal stopping point being 10 minutes from Col de St Barnabe on the route of the GR4.
Mountain biking
The area around Soleilhas is criss-crossed with forest tracks making this a mountain biking paradise.
On road cycling
Roads are generally quiet with good surfaces and plenty of cols to test your legs.
Fishing
There are trout ponds at St-Auban open March to November.
Air sports
For paragliding and hang gliding Soleilhas is ideally situated half an hour from St Andre and half an hour from Col de Bleyne, both of which have tarred roads to take off. Lachens, Gourdon and Greolieres are also nearby.
Horse riding
You can go horse riding with the Gite Tonic in St-Auban
Gorge du Verdon
The Gorge du Verdon is Europe’s largest gorge – 700m deep. You can view it in a variety of ways. On foot, there are some stunning walks which take you right down into the gorge itself. Rafting, canoeing and aqua rando are nice cool ways to take in the vast cliffs. Car touring – the Route des Cretes is not for the novice driver.
Rock climbing
The Verdon Gorge is world famous for its rock climbing but all over this region there are lots of cliffs to play on, nearby St Auban has some good climbing as does Aiglun.
Water sports
As water is released from the dams above the Verdon Gorge in a controlled fashion the nearby town of Castellane has become a water sports mecca. Several days a week the water is released so that you have the warmth of the South of France combined with the unusual phenomenon of water in the rivers. You can choose from a variety of crafts – inflatable canoes for one or two people, rafts, aqua rando where you walk and float down the river, tubing where you sit in an inner tube.
If white water isn’t for you, then why not try a leisurely canoe or pedalo round nearby Lac de Castillon. The Siroco beach near Castellane is a lovely place just to sit and sunbath taking in the azur blue of the lake whilst enjoying an ice cream.
Canyoning
The area has lots of stunning canyons, if you are particularly brave you can go through one with one of the local canyoning companies.
Show caves
If you do get a rainy day there are three show caves which are well worth a visit at St Vallier de Theiy
Perched villages
The area has lots of wonderful villages to visit, Entrevaux and Colmar designed by French military architect Vauban are both within driving distance.
Market days
Castellane has a very busy market day on Wednesdays and Saturdays, selling local cheese, dried meats, olives, honey, wine, soap etc. It can however be very quiet over winter time.
Bird watching
Vultures have recently been reintroduced to the Verdon Gorge at the village of Rougon and can frequently be seen through out the region having now spread to the mountains above Soleilhas.